|
Learn
to Fly!
w
Class Schedule
w
Earn Your Wings
w
Earn Your Wings (gear)
w
Pilot Prep School
w
Tandem Flight
w
Tow Tech
w
Gift Certificate
Clinics
w
Paramotoring
Tours
w
Utah USA
w
Monterrey MX
Class
Materials
w
Class Materials
w
Notes on Radios
w
2-meter Radio Freqs
Rating
Requirements
w
P1 - Beginner
w
P2 - Novice
w
P3 - Intermediate
Gear
for Sale
w
Wings
w
Harnesses
w
Reserve Chutes
w
Paramotors
w
Electronics
w
Other Key Gear
Services
w
Reserve Chute Repack
Local Fly Parks
w
'The Escape'
w
Murchison Middle School
w
Brushy Creek Park
w
Packsaddle
w
Wells Lane (towing)
w
Cafe 290 (to meet)
w
"Buz" Off (Leakey)
Photos
& Videos
w
Students & Training
w
Weather
w
Tow Winch Operations
w
Ridge Soaring
w
Tours
Cool
Info
w
Clubs
w
Forums
w
Flying Sites
w
Online Videos
w
Weather
w
Other Cool Links
w
Misc
About
Us
w
Paul Greenwood
w
Gary Leach
|
Local Fly Parks
|
|
"The Escape" |
Private
property
Posted, invited-guests only |
Location:
1020 County Road 200, Liberty Hill, Texas USA 78642
(approx 30-45 minutes north-northwest of Austin)
Directions from Austin:
1. Hwy 183 northbound, through Cedar Park TX and Leander TX
2. Take a left onto Texas Hwy 29 (the intersection is called Seward
Junction)
3. Continue traveling westbound on Texas Hwy 29 through Liberty Hill
TX
4. On the other side (west side) of Liberty Hill, you will cross some
railroad tracks
5. Just after you cross the railroad tracks, take a right onto County Road 200
6. You will cross over the railroad tracks again, just as you turn
onto CR200
7. Travel approx 0.9 mile... as the road curves to the right
8. Gated entrance is on your right... look for the blue mailbox
NOTE: Be careful... Watch for TRAINS... and, the entrance is on a CURVE in the road!
Elevation:
0 feet AGL (above ground level)
???? feet MSL (mean sea level)
Description:
The Escape is private property owned by V. Paul Greenwood and Amy Tomko.
Their home is on this property, so please be considerate of them and their
hospitality. Thanks!
Special Notes:
The Escape has domestic animals and pets including dogs, miniature donkeys,
et al. Plus, there may be the occasional visitor from the wilder side of
life
including white tail deer, armadillos, rabbits, snakes, birds, et
al. So... be careful and be aware!
|
|
Murchison Middle School hill |
Public
property
City-owned by Austin TX |
Location:
3700 N Hills Dr,
Austin, Texas
USA 78731
(hill is located 5 blocks west of MoPac at the corner of Far West Blvd &
Chimney Corners Street)
This is a good location to practice kiting and short flights when the winds
are easterly. There's lots of other activities there too... jogging, soccer,
football, cardboard sliding down the hill, radio-controlled aircraft flying,
et al...
Directions from Austin at IH-35 & Hwy 183 (north side of Austin):
1. Hwy 183 north (which is actually going in a westerly direction)
2. Exit the MoPac (Loop 1) exit off the right side of Hwy 183 (you
will 'fly over' Hwy 183 & MoPac)
3. MoPac (Loop 1) south
4. Take the Far West Blvd exit
5. Take a right onto Far West Blvd (you will be going westbound)
6. Continue traveling westbound on Far West Blvd for approx 1.5 miles
7. Hill is on your left (on the south side of Far West Blvd)
NOTE: Be careful... it can be a busy street, park along the south side of
Far West Blvd.
Elevation:
40 feet AGL (above ground level)
???? feet MSL (mean sea level)
Description:
The hill is formed from a football field dug
into the side of a hill that faces east.
|
|
Brushy Creek Park |
Public
property
City-owned by Austin TX |
Location:
Corner of Parmer Lane
(FM 734) and Brushy Creek Road (County Road 174)
This is a good location to practice kiting due to it's flat ground next to a
small lake. There's other activity there too... jogging, picnicking,
playground, et al... plus, public restrooms and water fountain available at
the park.
Directions from Austin at IH-35 & Parmer Lane (FM 734) (north side of Austin):
1. Parmer Lane (FM 734) west
2. Travel approximately 10 miles (you'll cross McNeil Road and Hwy
620)
3. Take a right onto Brushy Creek Road (County Road 174)
4. Travel approximately 0.1 mile
5. Brushy Creek Park is on your right
Description:
The park has picnic tables (some covered), BBQ pits, playground, water
playground, water fountain, public restrooms, grass field next to a small
lake, jogging trail, and ample parking.
|
|
Packsaddle |
Private
property
Posted, members & invited-guests only
Memberships available thru
Austin Free Flight Association |
Location:
GPS Coordinates: 30°37' 03"N, 98°29' 16"W (30.617500, -98.487778)
5 miles SW of
Kingsland in eastern Llano County in the Texas Hill Country
(approximately 1 hour & 45 minutes west-northwest of Austin)
NOTICE:
Pack is a gated & locked 'members & invited-guests only' fee site.
Pilots from Texas must be a member of the Austin Free Flight
Association to be a member of Pack. If you live outside Texas or are
training under the guidance of an instructor,
there is a Pack visitor daily fee. Pack is administered by the Austin Free
Flight Association via contract with the landowner. [Become
a member of Pack]
Directions from north Austin:
1. IH-35 northbound to Georgetown TX
2. Take exit 261
3. Take a left onto Texas Hwy 29 to Burnet TX
4. Continue traveling westbound on Texas Hwy 29 from Burnet to Hwy
1431 (approx 15 miles)
(you will be passing Inks Lake on your left, then Lake
Buchanan on your right)
5. Take a left onto Hwy 1431
6. Continue traveling southbound on Hwy 1431 to Kingsland TX
7. At the HEB grocery store downtown, take a right onto Hwy 2900
8. Cross over the river (the river portion of Lake L.B.J.)
9. Take your first right onto County Road 309
10. Follow the dirt/rock road until you come to a clearing on your right...
you will see Packsaddle Mountain and the wooden hang glider launch ramp on
the south side of the hill
Directions from south Austin:
1. Hwy 290 westbound to Hwy 71 on the southeast side of Austin
2. Take a right onto Texas Hwy 71 west towards Marble Falls TX & Llano
TX
3. Continue traveling westbound on Texas Hwy 71 to County Road 309
(approx 50 miles)
(you will cross over US Hwy 281)
4. Take a right onto County Road 309
5. Follow the dirt/rock road approx 1/2 mile until you come to a clearing on your
left...
you will see Packsaddle Mountain and the wooden hang glider launch ramp on
the south side of the hill
NOTE: Be careful... this is the Texas Hill Country... that means lots of
hills and hidden areas!
Elevation:
387 feet AGL (above ground level)... launch
1,628 feet MSL (mean sea level)
Description:
Packsaddle, more commonly known as "Pack" by local pilots, is a
ridge-soaring site. There are south and northeast launch sites. The
northeast launch is a P3/H3-rated site. The LZs are pastures south of the
hill. A
wide fence stile is in place on the fenced-in pasture that provides pilots an easy exit.
Of Special Interest:
In 1873, this
was the site of the Packsaddle Mountain Fight, the last major Indian battle
in the area. You can read more about it in the writeup,
"The
Famous Packsaddle Mountain Fight."
|
Wells Lane
(tow operations) |
Private
property
Public roadway |
Location:
Wells Lane, Manor, Texas USA 78653
(approximately 30 minutes east-northeast of Austin)
NOTICE: Wells Lane is a narrow, active roadway surrounded by farmland...
private properties, multiple farmers, active with farm equipment. Carpooling
is a good idea to minimize traffic and parked vehicles along the road. It is
our intent to tow and go on chase. We thus leave the area and minimize
impact of our presence... also, please be respectful of our farmers' lands.
Thanks!
Directions from Austin (north of downtown):
1. From IH-35 northbound, take Hwy 290 eastbound to Manor TX
2. Continue traveling eastbound on Hwy 290 for approx 13 miles and go
thru Manor TX
3. Take a left onto FM 1100 (you will be winding through farm country
for approx 2.7 miles)
4. Take a left onto Wells Lane
5. Continue traveling on Wells Lane for approx 1 mile to a "T" in the
road
6. Take a right and continue traveling approximately 0.2 mile
7. Take your first left... this IS the tow road
NOTE: For clarification... Hwy 290 East intersects IH-35 on the north side
of Austin, while Hwy 290 West intersects IH-35 on the south side of Austin.
Elevation:
0 feet AGL (above ground level)
???? feet MSL (mean sea level)
Description:
This is farm country! Lot's of fields.
Special Notes:
Be careful... the tow road may be ACTIVE when you arrive... keep an eye out!
Be careful... this is farm country... sometimes there are tractors on the
road!
|
Cafe 290
(meet & eat) |
Private
property
on Hwy 290 in Manor TX |
Location:
11011 Hwy 290 E,
Manor Texas USA 78653 (512) 272-4212
We use Cafe 290 restaurant as our main Wells Lane (tow road) meeting place. After
meeting up with everyone, we drive to the Wells Lane tow road together. It's
convenient, and we'll often eat and discuss plans for the day's events.
Directions from Austin at IH-35 & Hwy 290 (north side of Austin):
1. Hwy 290
east
2. Travel approximately 10 miles
3. Cafe 290 is on your right at corner of Hwy 290 and W. Murray Ave
(TX Hwy 212)
Directions from Austin at IH-35 & Parmer Lane (FM 734) (north side of Austin):
1. Parmer
Lane (FM 734) east
2. Travel approximately 8 miles
3. Take a left onto Hwy 290
4. Travel approximately 1.3 miles
5. Cafe 290 is on your right at corner of Hwy 290 and W. Murray Ave
(TX Hwy 212)
|
Hearne Municipal
Airport
(tow operations) |
Public Airport
in Hearne TX |
Location:
GPS Coordinates:
30°52' 18.585"N, 96°37' 20.015"W (30.8718292,
-96.6222264)
Corner of FM 485 & Airport Rd,
Hearne Texas USA 77859 (979)
279-3461
FAA info:
FAA Identifier: LHB (KLHB, formerly T72) (source:
AirNav.com)
NOTAM facility: LHB (NOTAM-D service available)
Pattern altitude: 1298 feet MSL
Airport communications:
122.9
Weather/AWOS: 118.675 or call (979) 280-5596
Runways: 18/36
We use Hearne Municipal Airport for towing operations. We are required to
file a NOTAM at least one day in advance of our arrival.
Motels we're aware of include...
- Western Motel, 910 W Brown St, Hearne TX (979) 279-9206
- Brazos Valley Inn, 1387 N Market St, Hearne TX (979) 279-3441
- Oak Tree Inn, 1051 N Market St, Hearne TX (979) 279-5599
Directions from
Round Rock TX (just north of Austin) at IH-35 & Hwy 79:
1. Travel east on Hwy 79 all the way to Hearne (approx 2-hour drive)
2. Take a left onto Hwy 6 (north)
3. Travel to the north side of Hearne
4. Take a left onto FM 485 (west)
5. Travel on FM 485 for approx 1.5 miles
6. The airport entrance is on your left
Optionally...
1. Travel east on Hwy 79 all the way to Hearne (approx 2-hour drive)
2. Just prior to arriving into Hearne, take a left onto FM 1644 (north)
3. Travel to the 'T' in the road, take a right onto FM 485 (east)
4. Travel on FM 485 for approx 3 miles
4. The airport entrance is on your right
Elevation
(surveyed):
Runway 18: 285 feet MSL (mean sea level)...
86.9 meters
Runway 36: 280 feet MSL
Description:
Hearne Municipal Airport was built in the 1950s as an auxiliary airport for
the Bryan Air Force Base by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
It is located adjacent to an industrial park, Camp Hearne, & the city's
fairgrounds. Some of
the airport's features include:
-
ultimate runway length of 7,800 feet (currently has a 4,500 foot runway,
with a North over-run of 1,100 feet and a South over-run of 2,200 feet)...
the longest runway in central Texas
-
capable
of accommodating
business jet aircraft
- a single, lighted runway with a parallel taxiway
- no FBO present; however, a city employee resides on site
- pilot lounge available 7AM to 7PM
- hosts Robertson County's Air Weather Observation System (AWOS)
- sits on 390 acres of city-owned land that is contiguous to 350 acres of
undeveloped farmland
- located in a rural area
that is free from buildings and other obstructions
- Bryan-College Station is
less than a 30-minute drive south on Hwy 6
- serves as home to a major
local business, Putz Aero, a crop-duster in the Brazos River bottom
- serves the needs of a variety of local aviators, visitors, and
others, including a Houston industrialist who has a Russian MIG jet parked
at the airport
Special Notes:
For additional information contact:
- Hearne City Hall... (979) 279-3461
- Hearne Police Department... (979) 279-5333
|
"Buz" Off foot launch &
Real County Airport |
Private
property & County Airport, respectively
Must contact Sam
Kellner prior to visit |
Location:
Leakey, Texas USA 78873
(approx 3 hours west of Austin... ~170 miles)
Sam's contact info:
(830) 486-8031
txhitime@yahoo.com | |
